Category: High Pitta

April 9, 2022

How to Balance Pitta Dosha with Ayurveda

ABSTRACT

Doshas are the humor and elements of the body which are responsible for a person’s physiological, mental and emotional health. Each one of these doshas have their own respective functions in our body. These doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Where vata represents the movement and nervous system, pitta represents digestive elements or juices and kapha ensures the lubrication of joints. The imbalance in any of these elements will deteriorate one’s health and give rise to various health conditions. In this article we will discuss the pitta dosha and how it can be managed using various ayurvedic herbs.

INTRODUCTION

Pitta dosha is generally said to be associated with the digestion and metabolism where pitta works by its properties of ushna(hot) and tikshna by initiating enzyme secretion. It has other properties according to the properties of their subtypes like ranjaka (coloring), bhrajaka, sadhaka, pachaka and alochaka pitta. Where pachaka pitta refers to digestion and this form of pitta exists primarily in the stomach and the intestine. Each one of them possesses different properties. Ayurvedic medicine is based on the idea that the world is made up of five elements- akash (space), vayu (air), agni (Fire), jala (water) and prithvi (earth).

A combination of each element results in three humors or doshas vata, pitta and kapha which are responsible for a person’s physiological, mental and emotional health. Each and every person has a unique ratio of each dosha if a person is having pitta dosha in predominance while others may be mostly of vata and kapha dosha. Balance of all three doshas is adequate to maintain a healthy mind and body balance. As per the quotation samdoshas samagnisch sama dhatu mala kriya prasantamindriya mana swasth ityabhidhiyata. If our body is in proper balance with the proportion of doshas, agni and dhatu then the patient is said to be in a state of physical, social and mental well being.

pitta dosha

Place of pitta dosha

The important site and location of the pitta dosha is as follows-

  • Sweda- rasa dhatu end product of food digestion
  • Lasika- lymph
  • Rudhira- blood
  • Amashaya- small intestines are sites of pitta.

Pitta dosha is based on fire and water. It is commonly described as ushna(hot), laghu(light), tikshan(sharp) and sara(mobile). Grisham ritu or summer season is known as the pitta season. People with pitta dosha have intelligence, self master skills, good metabolism and healthy skin and hair. All metabolic activities, appetite, hunger, color, complexion and body’s circulation are dependent on pitta dosha. When pitta is out of balance then the body may lead to many diseases like inflammation, acne and acidity.

SUB-TYPES OF PITTA DOSHA

TYPE OF PITTA DOSHA LOCATION AND   FUNCTION
Ranjaka Located in the liver and spleen, it is responsible for converting rasa dhatu into rakta dhatu
Pachaka Located in the stomach and intestine, it controls the digestive system
Sadhaka Located in the head and heart. It attends mental functions such as knowledge and intelligence
Bhrajaka Located in the skin, it gives color and complexion to the skin
Alochaka Located in the eyes and helps in vision

Food to eat in pita

Pitta is said to be aggravated by the diet rich in rasa like amla (sour), lavan (salty) and katu (pungent) and is mitigated by madhura (sweet), tikta (bitter) and kashay (astringent) rasa. So, people having a pitta body type should refrain from having a diet rich in rasa amla (sour), lavan (salty) and katu (pungent) like grapes, papaya, onions, eggplant, almonds and various other things.

FOOD TO CONSUME IN PITTA BODY TYPE FOOD NOT TO CONSUME IN PITTA BODY TYPE
Sweet and bitter vegetables like celery, carrots, cucumber and cabbage. Spicy hot food, soy sauce, urad dal and things having salty and sour content.
Fruits like sweet ripe oranges, pear, bananas, melons and mangoes. Cashew, sesame seeds, peanuts, egg yolk and thyme.
Herbs and spices like black pepper, cumin, cilantro and turmeric. Honey, jaggery and white sugar. Spices like garlic, cloves, mustard seeds and hing.

Summer is said to be the season of pitta which is a combination of fire and water elements, pitta has the characteristics of being hot. When there is excess pitta in the body you may experience the following:-

  1. Feeling of heat generation in the body.
  2. Acid reflux
  3. Nausea
  4. Diarrhea
  5. Anger and hot flashes
  6. Excessive sweating
  7. Foul body odor
  8. Irritability
  9. Insomnia
  10. 10.Inflammation of the joints

According to ayurveda due to the inconsistency of them chronic diseases occur. There are 40 types of diseases caused by pitta dosha.

Among the forty nanatmaja vyadhi of pitta dosha some of the diseases are given below:

  1. Daha (burning)
  2. Amlaka
  3. Antar daaha (burning sensation inside the body)
  4. Ati sveda (excessive sweating)
  5. Ushmaadhikya (excessive temperature)
  6. Kaamla (jaundice)
  7. Jivadana (hemorrhage)
  8. Tamah pravesha (fainting)

Symptoms of Pitta Imbalance

  1. Daha- burning sensation
  2. Ushna – heat
  3. Sweda- perspiration
  4. Kandu- itching
  5. Kotha- putrefaction
  6. Srava- discharge
  7. Raaga – redness

General Treatment for pitta diseases

  1. Pita is treated with herbs having Madhura, tikta and kashaya rasa.
  2. Herbs having cool potency
  3. Virechana- purgation
  4. Parisheka- effusion
  5. Abhyanga- massage with herbs having pitta-pacifying qualities.

Importance of virechana in pitta imbalance

Purgation or virechana is the treatment for curing the pattika disease after administration virechana eliminates vitiated pitta from its root from the level of intestines. It also alleviates the entire vitiated pitta from other parts of the body.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT

In ayurveda shamana is done by using madhura(sweet), tikta(bitter) and kashaya(astringent) rasa. The goal of treatment is to cleanse the body of undigested food. These cleansing mechanisms are described among panchkarma to maintain balance in the body.

Panchkarma includes five types of shodhana karmas.

1. VAMAN

  • Vaman is done to detoxify vitiated kapha dosha.

2. Virechana

  • Virechana is done to detoxify vitiated pitta dosha.

3. Basti

  • Basti is done to detoxify vitiated vata dosha.

4. Nasya

  • Nasya or nasal administration of medicated oil and herbs are used for relieving doshas from the head.

5.Raktamokshana

  • Raktamokshana is done to expel out vitiated rakta dosha.

FORMULATIONS TO BALANCE VITIATED PITTA DOSHA.

  1. Shadanga Paniya
  2. Ushirasava
  3. Praval Panchamrit ras
  4. Amalaki Rasayan
  5. Kamdudha ras

ASANAS TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY PITTA BALANCE

  1. Dhanurasana
  2. Bhujangasana
  3. Ardha matsyendrasana
  4. Setu bandhasana
  5. Ushtrasana

Some effective herbs by planet ayurveda to balance pitta dosha

1. Pitta Balance

This herbal formulation is made up of rasaushadhi like jahar mohra pishti, kaharava pishti, akik pishti, mukta pishti and giloy satva(Tinospora cordifolia) herb. Akik pishti and mukta pishti are helpful in balancing excess acid in the stomach and provides immediate relief from acidity and heartburn but also improves digestion and reduces constipation.

Dosage– 1 to 2 capsules twice daily with water after a meal.

2. Panchatikta kwath

This formulation is made of guduchi(Tinospora cordifolia), nimba(Azadirachta indica), patola(Cucumis acutangulus), kantakari(Solanum virginianum) and parpata(Fumaria indica) etc. which is useful in reducing inflammation and fever like conditions.

Dosage– 2 tsp before food with equal amount of water

3. Shankh bhasma

It is made of the conch or sea shell for managing conditions like acid reflux, also called GERD. Sankha bhasma has a kshar (alkaline) property which helps in neutralizing the excess acid production. It works by its sheeta (cold) property. It is useful in controlling acidity, abdominal pain and ibs like condition.

Dosage– 125-250 mg twice a day

4. Praval panchamrit ras

This herbal formulation is in the form of tablet or powder formed by Mukta bhasma, shankh bhasma, shukti bhasma, praval bhasma and the latex of arka. It has a calming effect on curing bloating, anorexia, ascites, indigestion and gastritis like conditions and is helpful in balancing vata and kapha dosha

Dosage-2 tablets  twice daily with honey, ghee and milk after a meal.

CONCLUSION

Pitta dosha is one of the three doshas of our body which has its own natural properties and functioning in the body. When these doshas get out of balance they cause different health conditions which are aggravated by the consumption of rasa opposite to that of their nature. Pitta dosha is similarly maintained by giving up on certain items leading to its aggravation like amla(sour), lavan(salt) and katu(pungent) rasa and also by shodhana(detoxification) and shamna(pacification).

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December 7, 2018

How to Reduce Pitta Immediately? Pitta Dosha Diet & Foods

Overview

Let’s discuss what Pitta is. It is one of the three doshas of a human body that controls the whole metabolism of the body, both physical and mental spontaneity are accessed by Pitta, making it move at a hectic pace, thus sometimes, it gets too aggressive and loses balance. Then the whole body has to suffer, making the immune system feeble and the toxins that are lurking outside the body attack it and causes a disease. You never know where they will strike.

In order to avoid all these hiccups, you need to pacify Pitta so that it doesn’t lose balance and keep the balance between the 3 doshas well maintained. So that, every part of the body functions normally. Thus keep the body fit & fine. The hot & sharp nature of Pitta needs to be soothed by the foods that have cooling effect and are dry, which can neutralize the oily nature of Pitta.

How to Reduce Pitta Immediately

Thus, it becomes mandatory to keep Pitta calm and enjoy the various benefits it bestows on our physical structure. To keep it calm some specific diet is recommended that will keep your Pitta constitution in equilibrium. Today, we are going to see which foods keep it calm and relaxed.

What Foods keep the Pitta calm?

Foods that keep Pitta calm:

  • Many foods appear cool, but if eaten can aggravate Pitta like fish and nuts. These sort of foods have a feature called ‘potency’ that is hot, making Pitta aggravated. Whereas fennel seeds give a sharp taste when chewed, but has a cool potency, keeping Pitta calm.
  • If you eat foods in excess, in spite of the fact that these foods have a cool potency like the milk products can calm Pitta, but for a short time. If you keep having them in excess for a long time, they tingle the top level of Pitta, which is required for the digestive system and this process causes indigestion. Better take a fore-warning, never eat anything in excess.

What Tastes, relax Pitta?

Tastes that keep Pitta placid:

  • Usually, Pitta is pacified by the sweet, bitter and astringent taste, but the salty, sour  and pungent tastes make it go aggressive. This knowledge does make one aware of the diet he/she has to consume that will keep his/her Pitta cool & calm.

What food to eat and what to avoid.

  • Use these guidelines to prepare your own diet menu that keeps Pitta calm.
  • Features of the sweet taste are it is touched to the ground, is cool and these days it is promoting longevity, health and provides strength to the tissues and fluids.  Its oily, moist and heavy qualities slow down digestion.
  • According to Ayurveda, the desert should be eaten first as an appetizer, when the metabolic fire is at the highest level.
  • The sweet taste can be found in foods like most fruits, root vegetables, most of the grains, fresh yogurt, ghee, milk, eggs, seeds, nuts and most of the oil except mustard oil.
  • When we discuss sweet foods, it doesn’t mean foods that taste sweet, but a sweet digestive effect as well. For example, sweet potatoes, white rice & whole grains. Sweet desserts cause indigestion when taken in excess. The sweet taste has the elements of Kapha, further aggravating it.
  • The bitter taste is rough, light, dry, cool and is usually reduced. It has almost all the qualities that keep the Pitta calm. Due to its unpleasant taste, it keeps missing from our dining table, but comes in handy when Pitta gets aggravated. When Pitta aggravates, its bitter taste makes it cool down. Our food does need the bitter taste that is provided by turmeric, fenugreek and bitter gourds.
  • Astringent taste is cold, dry and heavy to tackle aggravated Pitta. It can be found in foods like a raw banana, artichoke, beet root, jack fruit etc.
  • The sour taste wakes up the mind and its senses. It encourages digestive juices, enhances digestion and eradicates excessive air and gasses. If had in excess it also aggravates Pitta.
  • The sour taste is found in tamarind, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, sauertraut, tangy orange, kiwi and pineapple.
  • The salty taste should be taken moderately, neither in excess nor in low quantity. Even when it gets aggravated it does so mildly.
  • Pungent spices often aggravate Pitta because of their hot nature.

What Foods keep the Pitta calm

 

What Should be the Environment to keep Pitta calm?

  • If you eat in a tranquilized atmosphere, chewing your food well, Pitta remains calm. Keep a nice balance between hot & cold food, hydrating and drying. Eating at regular intervals keeps the Pitta calm and the food gets well digested.
  • All foods do not make Pitta aggressive; occasionally when it becomes aggravated it can be cooled by pacifying foods and spices.
  • Better use sweet taste while digestion is taking place. If the Pitta is aggravated an abrupt fasting of water and other fluids can be beneficial for the body.
  • Fasting on raw fruits, coconut water and moong dal soup and vegetables can be a good choice. Don’t prolong your fast. The powerful Pitta will survive on eating your tissues.

What sort of Foods you need in your 3 meals to keep Pitta composed?

The breakfast:

  • Never skip the breakfast when Pitta is elevated. Have grains, dairy, barley, oats, whole wheat, egg whites, all are good choices. They provide carbohydrates, which release sugar in the blood, according to the needs. Sweet nuts like raisins and almonds are also nice.

Lunch:

  • Variety of grains like quinoa, wheat, barley and rice can be had in different forms. Beans and vegetables are also good and can be had with some meat, the one you love eating. Salads can be had as side dishes. Avoid spices, or very little amount can be used, they have a hot nature.

Dinner:

  • Dinner is a lighter version of lunch. Don’t make it heavy, but better make it nutritious. It has to sustain the balance of Pitta. A simple one like kichhadi, pasta or a mini version of lunch will do.

Soups and boiled veggies can be had as starters, it keeps a check on calorie intake and satisfies the Pitta digestive fire.

All these foods will keep Pitta calm & cool and maintain the body’s metabolism very well and the person stays fit & fine.

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